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1. You are a Compliance Officer. Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain what your role involves?
I am a criminologist and also hold a Master’s degree in Gender and Diversity. I graduated in June 2023. I started my career as a KYC Analyst at a bank, where I progressed to an AML Compliance Analyst role. My expertise mainly lies in AML, where I have gained experience in both the first and second line.
Since January 2026, I have been working as a Compliance Officer at Mercier Van Lanschot. Here, I have the opportunity to broaden my scope further by taking on additional compliance-related responsibilities, such as GDPR, whistleblowing frameworks and market abuse. The role is very diverse and allows me to explore a wide range of topics that align with my interests.
2. Why did you choose a career in compliance? What attracted you?
Before starting university, I hesitated between Law, Criminology and Economics. I eventually chose Criminology and later pursued an additional Master’s degree. Even after that, my interest in the financial sector remained strong. Compliance felt like a logical combination of economics and criminology.
Many of my friends were already working in the financial sector, often as KYC or AML analysts, and their experiences were largely positive.
What also appealed to me was the stability of the banking sector, the competitive salary, the flexibility and the strong work-life balance.
KYC or AML experience is often a solid starting point. I have grown significantly in a relatively short period, which confirms that this was a very good step.
3. How and when did you first come across the possibility of starting a career in compliance?
Not through university or a specific course during my studies. I mainly discovered it myself by asking: where are criminologists needed? That often led me to KYC roles.
I actively sought information at job fairs, visiting stands of financial institutions. Compliance is not a profession you naturally come across. If you do not hear about it through friends or acquaintances, you often have no idea this career path exists.
It would certainly be valuable to promote it more actively at universities.
4. What do you find most appealing about your daily work as a Compliance Officer?
For me, it is mainly the variety and the opportunity to broaden my knowledge. I am no longer focused solely on AML, but also deal with topics such as GDPR, whistleblowing and abuse of power. No two days are the same, and that is exactly what I was looking for.
I work in a small team, which allows for quick communication and alignment. I also have frequent contact with other teams. For example, I am involved in marketing and collaborate with investment advisers and bankers, continuously learning about how they operate. That interaction with different teams is particularly valuable.
5. What are the main challenges for you as a young compliance professional?
A key challenge is staying up to date with legislation while also keeping track of internal procedures. This is not always straightforward. You need to understand the regulations and be able to apply them correctly within the organisation.
Because everything is still relatively new to me, it requires a lot of research and a strong willingness to learn. That challenge is also what makes it interesting. You have to be willing to take the leap, even if you do not yet know everything.
What I experience as very positive is that compliance is not seen as something negative or purely controlling. On the contrary, there is a strong focus on a partnership approach, and management is highly involved. That makes a significant difference.
6. How do you see compliance evolving over the next five years? And your role within that?
AI will play an increasingly important role, and this is already visible today. It will allow compliance professionals to focus more on substantive work. At the same time, regulations will become stricter and more complex, particularly in anti-money laundering, with growing expectations around transaction monitoring, risk-based controls and reporting obligations.
Processes such as minute-taking and online checks are already partly AI-driven. However, human expertise remains essential. Technology can support, but not replace everything.
7. What advice would you give to managers of young compliance professionals?
Patience and guidance are essential. Everything is new for starters, so it is important to build their confidence. Regular check-ins are very helpful.
See it as an investment in young talent: make time, show appreciation and give them the space to grow.
8. What advice would you give to starters considering a career in compliance?
Be willing to take the leap, even if it feels daunting at first because you do not yet know everything. If you are eager to learn, compliance offers a lot of opportunities for growth and achievement.
A basic course, for example through Febelfin, can help you gain an initial understanding of the field. However, most learning happens through experience.
I get the impression that there are still relatively few young people entering compliance today. The earlier you start, the faster you build experience and progress to a senior role. It is a very diverse field, involving many different stakeholders, so it is never boring.
9. To what extent can you rely on a network of other young compliance professionals?
That network is quite limited. Apart from AML, there are not many young professionals working as Compliance Officers. It is also not a role people typically start in immediately.
Thank you, Johanna, for this insightful conversation. And a call to other Compliance Officers: feel free to reach out if we can support you in any way.
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